Carli The Quilter

Our two sons are 17 months apart in birth dates, we are very close as an adult family. We are comfortable having thoughtful and engaging conversations with each other. We're OK, in saying the unpopular comments about things that you worry about. They too, say things that are not be taken as the gospel because we "know" each other like best friends. We all say stupid things sometimes and we apologize and move on. Our friends comment to us that they see how close we are as a family. We talk on the phone at least once a week, then we'll leave the conversation and carry on with our respective lives, knowing in the certainty of acceptance that "the conversation" is safe until  brought up again. You always hope that your children will like each other? When we started this crazy and loving story we talked at length about after  bedtime quiet began. "Growing a citizen who thought about stuff and tried to make a difference" we both piped up. ...

Most of you don't know that I was a Teacher Mom at home with two wiley coyote boys. Yep, I know about mud, rocks and snakes who happen along the couch! I accepted the awesome responsibility of teaching our own kids. I have several close friends who are teachers working in some system somewhere. I was not taught the conventional way and I guess it rubbed off on me.  For years in my childhood, my parents had farms that were not really close to any town. We were loners, happily going about our farming lifestyle! Horses were a daily part of the work and play. I did correspondence school via the mail. Our sons are now grown and we love it daily that they are still as close as we ever were. They don't live in the same area or even in the same province, but we remain close. Like this braiding above, we are knit together like a rug, hand made and lovingly cared for, we grew together. This is the most clear memory we all took from our years of schooling at ho...